Protective device for a tabletop

ABSTRACT

A protective device ( 10 ) for a tabletop ( 14 ) has a covering ( 12 ) and at least two mounting elements ( 18 ). The mounting elements ( 18 ) each have a longitudinal extent ( 18   a ), a fastening member ( 20 ) and a retaining member ( 22 ). The tabletop ( 14 ) extends along a table plane ( 16 ). The fastening members ( 20 ) are configured for fastening the associated mounting element ( 18 ) on the tabletop ( 14 ) so that the respective longitudinal extent ( 18   a ) of the associated mounting element ( 18 ) runs transverse to the table plane ( 16 ). The retaining members ( 22 ) are configured to retain the covering ( 12 ) and to withstand tensile forces that act on the associated retaining member ( 22 ) transverse to the longitudinal extent ( 18   a ) of the respective mounting elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a protective device for a tabletop or a table, in particular for protecting against insects. The tabletop that can be protected by the protective device may be formed with a continuous surface, with slats or with a lattice structure.

2. Description of the Related Art

Protective devices that are known already usually have an insect net which is placed over a rod assembly fastened on the tabletop. Thus the insect net is kept at a distance from the surface of the tabletop. Known devices that protect against insects, however, are overly complicated due to the rod assembly, and are difficult to handle.

The object of the invention is to provide a protective device for a tabletop that allows items on the tabletop to be protected in an effective manner against undesirable objects, in particular against insects, without any great outlay being required for fitting purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a protective device for a tabletop, in particular for protecting against insects. The protective device has a covering and at least two mounting elements. The mounting elements each have a longitudinal extent, a respective fastening member and a respective retaining member. The tabletop extends along a table plane. The fastening members are configured for fastening the associated mounting element on the tabletop so that the respective longitudinal extent of the associated mounting element runs transverse to the table plane. The retaining members are configured for retaining the covering, and the mounting elements are configured so that, in the state in which they are fastened on the tabletop, they withstand tensile forces that act on the associated retaining member transverse to the longitudinal extent of the respective mounting elements.

The provision of at least two mounting elements allows the individual mounting elements to be fastened at different locations of the tabletop. The respective longitudinal extent of the mounting elements here runs transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the table plane, so that the mounting elements can be arranged to project upward from the tabletop. The covering is retained above the tabletop by the mounting elements fastened in this way. Since the mounting elements, in the state in which they are fastened on the tabletop, are configured such that they can be subjected to tensile loading transversely to their respective longitudinal extent, the mounting elements fastened in this way enable the covering to be spread out, at least in certain sections, above the tabletop. In particular the covering thus can be tensioned by the mounting elements, at least in certain sections, essentially parallel to the table plane. This makes it possible for sagging of the covering above the tabletop to be prevented effectively. It is thus possible to avoid the situation where the covering contacts food laid out on the tabletop.

Furthermore, the protective device according to the invention can easily be adapted to tabletops of different sizes and shapes. The individual mounting elements according to the invention are merely fastened at suitable intervals along the periphery of the tabletop. The covering is then tensioned via the fitted mounting elements. The mounting elements themselves need not be changed in terms of shape or form.

It is advantageous in particular if the protective device according to the invention has three, four or more mounting elements. These can then be arranged on the tabletop such that the mounted and spread-out covering spans the shape of the table in an essentially congruent manner.

The protective device can be produced in a light weight and thus cost-effective manner if the mounting elements each have a spacer arranged between the respective fastening member and the respective retaining member, the spacer being of rod-like design. In particular the fastening member and the retaining member are designed as opposite end regions of the mounting elements. It is further particularly advantageous if the spacers are dimensioned longitudinally to allow the covering to be spread out above tableware arranged on the tabletop. The peripheries of the covering here may hang down, if appropriate, laterally. It is thus easily possible for the covering to be arranged at a distance above a laid table and thus for the food laid out to be protected against insects and other objects, for example falling leaves. It is particularly expedient if the mounting elements have a length of approximately thirty to fifty centimeters, preferably approximately forty centimeters, and the covering can thus be spread out above the tabletop at a height corresponding approximately to the length of the mounting elements.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if, in the state in which it is fastened on the tabletop, the respective mounting element can be flexed elastically to a slight extent by means of a tensile force acting on its retaining member transverse to the longitudinal extent of the mounting element. It is thus possible for the mounting elements to be subjected to stressing to some extent for the purpose of tensioning the covering, as a result of which a sagging covering can be largely avoided. The covering can thus be tensioned to particularly good effect above the tabletop using this advantageous embodiment.

The operation of fitting the protective device is particularly straightforward if the respective spacer and the respective fastening member of a mounting element are configured such that it is possible to fasten on one another the spacer and the fastening element for each plug-in connection. It is thus possible, in the first instance, for the individual fastening members to be fastened on the tabletop and then for the associated spacers to be plugged into the same. Finally, the covering is placed over the mounting elements fastened in this way and is, if appropriate, tensioned correspondingly. It is further advantageous if the spacer can be fastened for swing action on the fastening member. It is thus possible for that part of the mounting elements which projects upward in each case from the tabletop when the covering has been mounted in the spread-out state to be swung away downward when the covering is removed.

It is further advantageous if the fastening members each have a clamping element for clamping the associated mounting element firmly on the tabletop. The fastening members can thus be particularly straightforwardly fastened in a releasable manner on the tabletop. The protective device can thus be assembled and dismantled in a particularly short period of time.

It is further expedient if the covering has a net, in particular an insect net, and/or a sheet-like material, for example a sheet-like fabric. An appropriately selected covering structure allows the table surface to be protected in an effective manner against undesirable objects of a wide variety of different kinds. A sheet-like fabric allows the table surface to be protected against objects of any size, i.e. in particular also against particles of dust. If the covering is configured as a net with a suitable mesh size, the weight of the covering can be reduced and effective protection against larger objects, for example falling leaves or insects, can nevertheless be achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the covering is of elastically expansible configuration. The covering can thus be fastened under tensile stressing on the mounting elements fastened on the tabletop. It is thus possible for the covering to be tensioned resiliently to particularly good effect above the tabletop. Sagging of the covering is thus avoided. In particular, sagging of the covering can be prevented to particularly good effect by combining the above-mentioned elastically flexible mounting elements with the covering of expansible configuration. In this embodiment, the covering can be tensioned above the tabletop, with a slight amount of expansion, by means of mounting elements subjected to stressing parallel to the table plane.

In an advantageous embodiment of the protective device according to the invention, the covering has contact means by way of which the covering can be fastened on the fastening members of the mounting elements. In a further advantageous manner, the contact means are configured such that the covering, restrained at least slightly on two sides by the contact means, can be resiliently tensioned. Sagging of the covering above the tabletop can thus be avoided. The situation where the covering comes into contact with food laid out on the tabletop can be, in particular, reliably avoided.

It is further particularly advantageous if the contact means have a plurality of contact elements, in particular eyelets, arranged such that the covering is suitable for spanning tabletops of different sizes and/or shapes. In particular it is advantageous if the contact elements are arranged in rows. These rows are expediently arranged parallel to an edge of the tabletop. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the protective device is configured for protecting elongate tabletops with a longitudinal extent. In this case, it is expedient, in particular, if the rows are arranged parallel to this longitudinal extent. The covering can thus be fastened on tabletops of different lengths. For this purpose, suitable contact elements in the rows are used to fasten the covering on the associated mounting elements, preferably fitted at corner regions of the tabletop. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the covering has a plurality of parallel rows of contact elements arranged one beside the other along the shorter extent of the tabletop. The covering can thus easily be mounted on tabletops of different widths. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the contact elements are arranged in parallel rows such that the covering can be used for tabletops having a length of 1.0 to 2.50 meters, in particular of 1.20 to 2.20 meters, and a width of 0.5 to 1.5 meters, in particular of 0.6 to 1.10 meters.

It is further expedient if the contact elements are arranged in close proximity to one another such that the covering can be tensioned by changing over to an adjacent contact element. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the contact elements are arranged on the covering such that the covering mounted and spread out by means of the mounting elements has a periphery which hangs down laterally on the mounting elements. In particular, this lateral periphery should hang down vertically to the tabletop, in order to prevent insects from being able to penetrate into that region above the table top which is to be protected by the covering.

An exemplary embodiment of a protective device according to the invention for a tabletop, in particular for protecting against insects, is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a protective device according to the invention fitted on a tabletop.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a covering of the protective device according to the invention from FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a protective device 10 according to the invention for a tabletop 14 of the table 15, the device being intended for protecting against insects. The tabletop 14 runs along a table plane 16. The protective device 10 comprises a covering 12 in the form of an insect net which is spread out above the tabletop 14 by means of at least two, in the present case four, mounting elements 18.

The mounting elements 18 extend along a respective longitudinal extent 18 a and each have a fastening element 20 with a clamping element 21 for fastening the mounting element 18 on the tabletop 14. The fastening member 20 is also provided with a sleeve-like accommodating portion 26, into which a spacer 24 of the mounting element 18 is plugged. Finally, the respective mounting element 18 has a retaining member 22. The retaining member 22 is arranged at that end of the mounting element 18 which is opposite that end of the spacer 24 which is plugged into the accommodating portion 26 of the fastening member 20.

The spacers 24 of the mounting elements 18 are of rod-like configuration. The mounting elements 18 fitted on the tabletop 14 project upward from the tabletop 14. This means that the respective longitudinal extent 18 a of the mounting elements 18 runs transversely to the table plane 16. Throwing the covering 12 over the fitted mounting elements 18 allows tableware and food laid out on the tabletop 14 to be protected against insects and other falling objects.

FIG. 2 illustrates the covering 12 in detail. The covering 12 has contact means 28 with contact elements 30. The contact elements 30 are configured in the form of eyelets and are arranged in regions of the covering 12 which are suitable for fastening on the mounting elements 18. The retaining members 22 of the mounting elements 18 are advantageously configured in each case in the form of a cone tip. For the purpose of retaining the covering 12, the contact elements 30 of the covering 12 are positioned on the retaining members 22.

The procedure for selecting suitable contact elements 30 for fastening on tables of different sizes can be gathered from FIG. 2. FIG. 2 uses broken lines to depict a contour 32 of a first tabletop and a contour 34 of a wider and longer, second tabletop 34. The contours 32 and 34 constitute a minimum size and a maximum size of a tabletop 14 which can be covered by means of the protective device 10. Depending on the size of the tabletop 14, suitable contact elements 30 are pushed onto the corresponding retaining members 22 of the mounting elements 18 fastened on the tabletop 14. The contact elements 30 are preferably arranged in such close proximity to one another that selecting a suitable contact element 30 allows the covering 12 to be suitably tensioned. In the mounted and spread-out state, a covering region 36 of the covering 12 extends essentially parallel to the table plane 16. An overhanging region 38 of the covering 12 hangs down laterally on the mounting elements 18 and thus prevents insects from penetrating laterally into the protected region above the tabletop 14. 

1. A protective device (10) for a tabletop (14), having a covering (12) and at least two mounting elements (18), the mounting elements (18) each having a longitudinal extent (18 a), a fastening member (20) and a retaining member (22), the tabletop (14) extending along a table plane (16), the fastening members (20) being configured in each case for fastening the associated mounting element (18) on the tabletop (14) so that the respective longitudinal extent (18 a) of the associated mounting element (18) runs transverse to the table plane (16), the retaining members (22) being configured for retaining the covering (12), and the mounting elements (18) being configured such that, in the state in which they are fastened on the tabletop (14), they withstand tensile forces acting on the associated retaining member (22) transverse to the longitudinal extent (18 a) of the respective mounting element (18).
 2. The protective device of claim 1, characterized in that the mounting elements (18) each have an elongate spacer (24) arranged between the respective fastening member (20) and the respective retaining member (22), the spacer (24).
 3. The protective device of claim 2, characterized in that, the respective mounting element (18), fastened on the tabletop (14), can be flexed elastically by a tensile force acting on its retaining member (22) transverse to the longitudinal extent of the mounting element (18).
 4. The protective device of claim 2, characterized in that the spacer (24) and the fastening member (20) of each said mounting element (18) are configured so that it is possible to fasten on one another the spacer (24) and the fastening member (20) for each plug-in connection.
 5. The protective device of claim 1, characterized in that the fastening members (20) each have a clamping element (21) for clamping the associated mounting element (18) firmly on the tabletop (14).
 6. The protective device according to claim 1, characterized in that the covering (12) has a net, in particular an insect net, and/or a sheet-like material, for example a sheet-like fabric.
 7. The protective device of claim 1, characterized in that the covering (12) is of elastically expansible configuration.
 8. The protective device of claim 1, characterized in that the covering (12) has contact means (28) for fastening the covering (12) on the fastening members (20) of the mounting elements (18).
 9. The device of claim 8, characterized in that the contact means (28) are configured so that the covering (12) can be tensioned by the contact means (28).
 10. The protective device of claim 9, characterized in that the contact means (28) have a plurality of contact elements (30), that are arranged so that the covering (12) is suitable for spanning tabletops (14) of different sizes and/or shapes. 